HARRISON ATTACKER SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN FREE

An inquiry says that paranoid schizophrenic Michael Abram, who stabbed the ex-Beatle ten times, should have been detained in a secure unit...

The findings of an inquiry into the psychiatric treatment of a paranoid schizophrenic who attempted to murder ex-BEATLE GEORGE HARRISON have been published today (October 23).

The findings claim that Harrison’s attempted assassin, Michael Abram, 35, should not have been at large. Abram, it was conceded, should have been detained in a secure unit by St Helens and Knowsley Hospitals NHS Trust.

Ken Sanderson, chief executive of the trust, said: “There is no doubt, with hindsight, that there were shortcomings in the mental health services we provided.”

The report, according to www.ananova.com, accepted it was a mistake to discharge Abram from hospital a month before he attacked Harrison in December 1999. However, the inquiry concluded that they “did not believe that any of the professional staff involved in Michael Abram’s care could have predicted the attack on Mr Harrison.”

Abram attacked Harrison after breaking into his Henley-On-Thames estate. He battered the songwriter with a table lamp, stabbed him at least ten times and attempted to strangle him.

Abram was subsequently tried for attempted murder, although the jury was directed to acquit Abram due to his insanity. Abram believed he was possessed by Harrison and on a mission from God, and that The Beatles were witches.

Abram was ordered to be detained indefinitely at a secure hospital. In the ten years prior to the attack, Abram suffered from paranoid delusions, which were exacerbated by heroin abuse. His family claim he was never given adequate treatment for his illness.